IMac Freezes and then doesn't startup

I have a 600Mhz G3 iMac, and from some time ago, it is giving some problems.
At first, it freezes and when restarting, after the normal chime a blinking "?" folder appeared. I'm a old Mac user (15 years)...and i know that is a "No System to startup" problem...probably HD problem. But the iMac, after waiting some minutes, restarts and works fine.
Now, the problem is bigger. It freezes from time to time, and when restarting there is no normal starting sound, no Apple icon, no blinking folder...just a gray screen....and from time to time, 2 or 3 little and short beeps. It stays like that. After waiting some minutes (or even a day)..it restarts normal, as always.
Any idea what it can be? My first idea was to change the HD...but, if it is the HD, why after waiting some time (cooling??) it starts OK?
Even more, if the HD is the problem...it should sound and appear the ? folder. The starting chime should sound always, even without a HD.
So...mother board, graphic card, HD? one, 2 of 3, all of them...?

I would start the trouble-shooting by installing a new battery, unless that is, you have a fairly new (< 2 years) one.

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